SS

Stainless Steel Classification, Welding, Chemical Table
Page 1 of 4
Classification of Stainless Steel

Metallurgically, stainless steels are classified into 3 groups:
1. Martensitic
2. Ferritic
3. Austenitic
Martensitic Class: - This is the straight chromium type of stainless, containing Chromium as it's main alloying
element.
It is normally Hard and Brittle, includes 4% - 10% Chromium types and is Air Hardening,
and Magnetic. Preheat and Postheat is necessary when welding.
Ferritic Class: - Is also straight Chromium type.
Normally is Soft and Ductile., includes the 12% - 28% Chromium types.
It is Magnetic. Preheat and Postheat is necessary when welding
Austenitic Class: - This steel is of the Chromium-Nickel type.
The Nickel content usually ranges from 7% - 35% with 8% - 10% being the most predominantly used.
It is Strong, Ductile and Impact Resistant
Non-magnetic in the annealed condition, but slightly magnetic when cold worked.
No preheat or Postheat is necessary when welding.
How Heat affects Stainless Steel

Heat and Hardness
if you heat the mild carbon steel to 1600 -1900 F and quickly quench, for example immersion in water,
you will get a Maximum Hardness.
If you give the same treatment to Austenitic or Chrome-Nickel steel, you will achieve
Maximum Softness.
Heat and Corrosion Resistance

Carbide precipitation causes the stainless steel to loose its corrosion resisting properties in the areas
affected. Best seen at areas of welding, rusty discoloration indicates that the alloy was robbed of its
Chromium.
Martensitic Stainless Steels are not subject to Carbide Precipitation or loss of corrosion resistance.
They are considered stable over the entire temperature range.
Heat and Grain growth

Martensitic SS are affected by Grain growth of the individual crystals when subjected to elevated welding
or forging temperatures
This grain growth causes the metal to become Brittle.
Small crystals can be restored by heat treatments to improve Ductility
Pre-heats and post-heats are used to slow down the cooling to avoid excessive hardening and to prevent
cracking.
Will harden intensely when allowed to Air cool - result in Cracking
Welding Stainless Steels

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4/5/2007
Page 2 of 4
Class
Series
Pre/Post heat
Magnetic
Cooling
Martensitic
Ferritic
Austenitic
400
400
300
YES
YES
NEVER
YES
YES
NONMAGNETIC
SLOW
SLOW
N/A
A small amount of ferrite in 300 series welds inhibits cracking

Only a fully austenitic welds are nonmagnetic
Small diameter welding rods help keep the heat to a minimum
The suffix "-16" indicated titania-type electrode coating which can be run AC or DC reverse polarity.
Titania type has a very smooth arc and the metal flows more freely with practically no spatter.
The bead is thinner and more concave - lack of material frequently causing cracks
The suffix "-15" indicated lime-type electrode coating which should be run DC reverse polarity only.
Less slag than titania type, deposits are sound, high strength. More convex and thicker, no cracking
problem.
Stainless & Heat Resisting Steels - Chemical table

Type
Carbon
Mangan
Phosp
Sulphur
Si
Cr
Nickel
Moly
Sellenium
Less
common
201
0.15
Max
5.50
7.50
0.060
0.030
1.00
16.00
18.00
3.50
5.50
N
0.25
202
0.15
Max
7.50
10
0.060
0.030
1.00
17.00
19.00
4.00
6.00
N
0.25
301
0.15
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
16.00
18.00
6.00
8.00
302
0.15
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
302
B
0.15
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
2.00
3.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
303
0.15
Max
2.00
0.20
Min
0.15
1.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
0.60
Zr
0.60
303
Se
0.15
Max
2.00
0.20
0.06
1.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
Min
0.15
304
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
304
L
0.03
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
18.00
20.00
8.00
12.00
305
0.12
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
308
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
4/5/2007
Page 3 of 4
309
0.20
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
22.00
24.00
12.00
15.00
309 S
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
22.00
24.00
12.00
15.00
310
0.25
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.50
24.00
26.00
19.00
22.00
310 S
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.50
24.00
26.00
19.00
22.00
314
0.25
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.50
17.00
19.00
8.00
10.00
316
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
16.00
18.00
10.00
14.00
2.00
3.00
316
L
0.03
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
16.00
18.00
10.00
14.00
2.00
3.00
317
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
18.00
20.00
11.00
15.00
3.00
4.00
321
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
17.00
18.00
8.00
12.00
Ti
5xC
347
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
2.00
3.00
17.00
18.00
9.00
13.00
Ta
10xC
348
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
2.00
3.00
17.00
19.00
9.00
13.00
Cb-Ta |
Ta
10xC |
0.10
403
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
0.50
11.50
13.00
405
0.08
Max
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
11.50
14.50
410
0.15
Max
1.00
0.040
0.030
1.00
11.50
13.50
414
0.15
Max
1.00
0.040
0.030
1.00
11.50
13.50
1.25
2.50
416
0.15
Max
1.25
0.06
0.15
Min
1.00
12.00
14.00
0.60
0.60
416
Se
0.15
Max
1.25
0.06
0.15
Min
1.00
12.00
14.00
Se
0.15 Min
420
Over
0.15
1.00
0.040
0.030
1.00
12.00
14.00
4/5/2007
Page 4 of 4
430
0.12
Max
1.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
14.00
18.00
430F
0.12
Max
1.25
0.06
0.15
Min
1.00
14.00
18.00
430F
Se
0.12
Max
1.25
0.06
0.06
1.00
14.00
18.00
431
0.20
Max
1.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
440A
0.60
0.75
1.00
0.040
0.030
440B
0.75
0.95
1.00
0.040
440C
0.95
1.20
1.00
440XH
1.60
446
0.60
0.60
Se
0.15 Min
15.00
17.00
1.25
2.50
1.00
16.00
18.00
0.75
Max
0.030
1.00
16.00
18.00
0.75
Max
0.040
0.030
1.00
16.00
18.00
0.75
Max
0.50
0.40
16.00
0.35
0.80
0.20
Max
1.50
0.040
0.030
1.00
23.00
27.00
N
0.25 Max
501
0.10
Max
1.00
0.040
0.030
1.00
4.00
6.00
0.40
0.65
502
Over
0.10
1.00
0.040
0.030
1.00
4.00
6.00
0.40
0.65
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Created and maintained by Tony Hnilica - *AJH* Custom Knives & Services
4/5/2007

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Stainless Steel Classification, Welding, Chemical Table

Classification of Stainless Steel

How Heat affects Stainless Steel

Heat and Corrosion Resistance

Heat and Grain growth

Welding Stainless Steels

Stainless Steel Classification, Welding, Chemical Table

A small amount of ferrite in 300 series welds inhibits cracking

Stainless & Heat Resisting Steels - Chemical table

Stainless Steel Classification, Welding, Chemical Table

Stainless Steel Classification, Welding, Chemical Table

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